Jiri Lehecka Believes Novak Djokovic Is “Not a God”
Jiri Lehecka Believes Novak Djokovic Is “Not a God”
After a four-month break due to a fractured vertebra during the 2024 season, Jiri Lehecka has made a strong comeback. Five months into his return, the Czech player is set to face the biggest challenge of his career as he takes on Novak Djokovic, the 10-time Australian Open champion, in the fourth round at Melbourne Park this Sunday.
Lessons from Their First Encounter
The two first met last year at the United Cup, where Djokovic emerged victorious after three sets. Despite the loss, Lehecka gained valuable insights from the experience:
“He’s just a normal person, not a god,” Lehecka remarked.
“Someone like him can make mistakes too. At the same time, he’s an incredibly experienced player who knows exactly what to do and when to do it. Djokovic will exploit every opportunity to beat you, so it’s going to be an extremely tough match. But you never know what might happen.”
A Strong Start to 2025
Currently ranked 29th in the ATP rankings, Lehecka has had an impressive start to the 2025 season. He claimed his second ATP Tour title in Brisbane and boasts a flawless 8-0 record in singles leading up to the fourth round of the Australian Open.
Aware of the challenge Djokovic presents, Lehecka remains confident in his abilities and preparation:
“I believe in my game and in the work we’ve done over the past few weeks in Australia. If I play my best tennis, why couldn’t I beat him?”
Djokovic Praises Lehecka
Djokovic, on the other hand, recognizes Lehecka’s strengths, describing him as one of the most physically capable players on the tour:
“Lehecka is one of the fittest players out there, and I think his serve is underrated. It’s a big weapon. He wins a lot of free points on his first serve,” Djokovic said during a press conference.
“The more matches you win, the more confident you get. I’m sure he feels he can beat me.”
An Enormous Challenge
Over the past two decades, defeating Djokovic at the Australian Open has been one of tennis’ greatest challenges. With an incredible 97-9 record at the tournament since his debut in 2005, Djokovic has consistently reached the semifinals here since 2018.
Despite Djokovic’s dominance, Lehecka remains unfazed:
“I’m just focusing on my game. It doesn’t matter who’s on the other side of the net; the only thing that changes is the size of the arena we’re playing in. The most important thing for me is to focus on myself and what I need to do,” Lehecka stated.
Ready for the Battle Ahead
Lehecka knows the magnitude of the challenge he faces but is eager to step onto the court and see if he can craft his own fairytale at the Australian Open:
“It’s going to be a big, big challenge, but we’ll see what happens,” he concluded with confidence.
